The one-time incentive payment of $28,900 was approved by a 5-2 vote of the trustees. The "no" votes came from Places 2 and 7 Trustees Mary Bone and Danielle Weston. Trustees also approved a an extension of Azaiez's contract through June 30, 2025, in a 4-2-1 vote, with "no" votes coming from Bone and Weston and Place 4 Trustee Cory Vessa abstaining.
Regarding the vote on the contract extension, some trustees shared their reasoning behind their decisions.
Weston stated that she voted no because the superintendent's license is currently under review by the Texas Education Association and pointed to several other issues that have arisen during Azaiez's time with the district.
Bone echoed this sentiment, pointing to the status of Azaiez's teaching credentials, which still bears a notice that it is under review by the TEA. She also referenced some of the accusations levied against the superintendent in late 2021 and early 2022, for which he was placed on administrative leave. The board voted to reinstate him in March.
"I just cannot extend the contract until the license issue is resolved," Bone said.
Vessa, who abstained, stated that she was not comfortable voting on Azaiez's contract until after the election, citing the issues mentioned.
"I do believe that we should have the election and see the will of the people before we vote on a contract extension," Vessa said. "Had we waited until those issues are resolved, I would have been a 'yes' vote because I really do think Dr. Azaiez is doing a good job."
One of the "yes" votes came from Place 1 Trustee Kevin R. Johnson, who expressed that his vote came from a desire for stability.
"I don't want to readjudicate anything that has happened or could possibly happen," Johnson said. "What I want to think about is the stability of the district and us moving forward. We have to put our kids first. We have to put the work and the business of our school district first."
